Choo-Choo School: All Aboard for the First Day of School!

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

No racing in the haul-ways! From the late, beloved author Amy Krouse Rosenthal, a look at seven adorable train cars on their first day of school.All aboard the train-car pool! A new lineup of students is off and rolling to Choo-Choo School. After reciting their classroom rules — Work hard, play fair, be kind — it’s time for some math to get the wheels turning. Then everyone’s ready to climb a hill in gym (it’s good to blow off steam), sing songs in music (Flat Car is a bit off-key), and learn the whole alphabet, especially the letter R. In one of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s last books, lighthearted verse portrays a world where train stations are classrooms, the conductor doubles as the teacher, and Boxcar is happy to hand out tissues to anyone who ah-choo-choos. Bright, energetic illustrations by animation artist Mike Yamada bring the whole clickety crew to rollicking life.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Trains, Childrens, Transport, Fiction, Storytime

40 pages, Paperback

First published July 14, 2020

About the author

SHORT BIO:

Amy Krouse Rosenthal was.
She divided her time.


NOT SO SHORT BIO:

Amy Krouse Rosenthal was a person who liked to make things.
Some things she liked to make include:

Children's books. (Little Pea, Spoon, DuckRabbit)
Grown-up books. (Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life)
Short films. (The Beckoning of Lovely, The Money Tree)
Guided journals. (The Belly Book)
Something out of nothing. (see above)

A longtime contributor to WBEZ and to the TED conference,
Amy lived with her family in Chicago and online at whoisamy.com.

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to think about a book that's published this many years after its author's death. Unless the author specifically set aside books to be published after her death, it seems a little opportunistic. What if certain books weren't published for a reason?

Now, Choo-Choo School isn't bad, but it's not great. It will probably appeal to very young children with its cute train-car characters... especially if those kid love trains. For everyone else, though, this is little more than a run-of-the-mill rhyming picture book with an iffy rhythm and little plot. A bunch of varied train cars go to school to learn how to be... themselves, I guess. That's literally all there is. There's no conflict. Nothing really happens. If you're looking for something with a story, this isn't it.

The illustrations are fun, though, and I can see this appealing to little train fans. It's no masterpiece, but it probably won't tarnish Rosenthal's reputation, either.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you ready to train your minds?

Choo-Choo School students learn to work hard, play fair and be kind. Each car from the engine to the caboose come to school to learn. Each car is colorful and is excited to be at school with their friends and teachers! The teachers make the cars feel welcome and make learning fun. So much to learn Choo-Choo school.

A Special Thank you to Candlewick Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Transportation books are beloved by kiddos so having train cars being the students! BUT it was just kind of meh. It has Amy Krouse Rosenthal's name on it but it doesn't feel like her.....sigh. sigh. It feels like a ghostwriter wrote it. =\ Others will love it but again, not what I was looking for in this particular storytime.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bouncy rhyming text, clever wordplay, and lively illustrations make this a fun back-to-school picture book. Train lovers will love the train humor and will enjoy this book year round.

[Rachel Stine · Rating 4 out of 5]

That is toot (toot) cute! Sorry, this book put me in a punny mood. It’s sweet but a tiny bit annoying to adult readers. I could see getting fed up of hearing, “Read it again,” with this book.

[Danica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute kid's book. Nothing fantastic. No cute little lessons.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back to school book where the train cars head to class to learn everything they need to know to grow and become who they want to be. Rosenthal captures the emotions surrounding starting school.
Joy filled illustrations.

[Dylan Teut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krouse Rosenthal at her best with word play and genius puns.

[Elles_shelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Choo-Choo School by Amy Krouse Rosenthal follows seven simply adorable train cars through their school day. The illustrations by Mike Yamada are winsome and energetic. The tiny student trains are just too cute as they complete their assignments and attend their classes. I also liked the delightful train puns sprinkled throughout this story. This book would be a perfect read aloud for students who are getting ready to go back to school or who about to start school for the very first time. It would also be a sweet read aloud for elementary teachers to use at the beginning of the school year.

[Rosalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is of the audio version of the book, I have not actually seen or held the printed copy.

My son who has multiple disabilities absolutely enjoyed the reading of this book. The sound effects were great and the story showed how school can be a fun place to be. He listens to it on repeat. As a teacher, you would definitely need the actual book for students to follow along while reading as there were many times I got lost in the story. Overall I would recommend it as a quick and fun read for when you're in the car.

I would like to thank the publisher and LibroFm for providing me this audio book at no cost.

[Kim Childress · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to go to Choo-Choo School!

Choo-Choo School, excellent fictional picture book book for very young readers and train lovers about the first day of school, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Mike Yamaha, Preschool to Age 2, Candlewick, 2020, 9780763697426.

Genre/BISAC: Picture book fiction, first day of school, trains, when they’re still sounding out words.

Booklist Review: “Brightly colored cartoonstyle digital illustrations portray this crew as a fun-loving class, eager to learn many of the same things young children would study...This appealing story is a terrific choice to read at the beginning of a school year, or anytime for train-loving children.” -Booklist

[Caitlynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading about the trains first day of school was great for my daughter. Learning about school through train characters is a fun way to get to know what to expect and what some rules might be. The illustrations are wonderful. Its a great addition to getting ready for school books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: July 14 2020

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is hard for me. AKR died in 2017 and yet here we have a new book. It may have been complete before her death, but I'm not sure it was edited to her usual standards. There are some harsh rhymes which are not usually found in her books. The story is nice and the illustrations are wonderful. Unfortunately this is not a book I think will be around for decades like Duck Rabbit or Little Pea, but it was an enjoyable read.

[Lisa Gemert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This board book has more text than most. It tells the story of trains headed off to choo-choo school. It's got a distinct "Thomas the Tank Engine" feel, complete with a reference to "maths." There's some punny humor that is more for the reader than the read-ee. It's a good text for young ones with older siblings headed off to school, and it's a must for lovers of trains.

Note: I was provided a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was «cute» but not much more to me. The art was very modern and eye catching, good point, but the story/concept an allegory of school involving train wagon's instead of student is alright but nothing new and just left me on my appetite quite a bite. Lack of something to make it reach a higher level!

[Wendi Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming picture book for kids who love trains and the idea of trains attending school. At choo-choo school, the trains learn their numbers and how to tell time, have snack and lunch time, and cheerfully go about their day. My daughter loved Caboose in particular, but she was entranced by the whole book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adorable picture storybook to add to First Day of School collections! Climb aboard this energetic train for a morning of fun at a school. All the basics are covered from learning class rules, the alphabet, and math. Students from preschool to early elementary will love this opening day book.

Thank you Libra.fm for adding this storybook to this month’s options.

[Abigail Breaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

The trains are at their first day of school! In this book, the trains move along through a typical day of school. This book is funny because it makes train references on almost every page that are fun to point out. It is somewhat educational when it comes to learning about trains. I think this is a great book for all the train lovers out there.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a cute idea. Children who love trains will enjoy this book. The pictures were bright and colorful. The story was by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, but it didn't seem like her usual style. I'm wondering if it was finished by soneone other than Rosenthal.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most whimsical picture book school you've seen yet. Likeable, though.

Pretty pix are supplemented by lighthearted verse, but that's just the start.

At this "school" train stations are classrooms. While the conductor also serves as The Teacher.

Although there are no official Mommies, Boxcar will give out tissues to anyone who ah-choo-choos.

FIVE STARS, sure.

[Ada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ada loves trains and this little book told a great story about trains and encouraged learning and school. We liked the story, though it had some moments where it didn’t flow very well. Overall, it is a great read and very fun. The illustrations are wonderful.

[Katelyn Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Choo-Choo School
Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Release Date: 7.14.2020
Review Date: 4.27.2020

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one was pretty cute. The illustrations were charming and interesting. Fun.

[Kelly]

Ah, the problem with publishing things after the author has died. I really feel like Amy would have done a better job with the rhyming and would have pushed to make the text fit the rhythm. So the book is just okay but should be popular with the school and train crowds.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. So I was eager to read this posthumous publication. I was disappointed. The illustrations were cute. The text, while clever, contains more wordplay than the average preschooler (the target audience) will understand. It did not sound like a AKR text.

[Elizabeth]

I think this would have worked better for me as a regular book instead of a Wonderbook. The rhythm felt off, and I think the music and the long pauses before the "turn the page" sound were to blame. The book itself was cute, and I enjoyed the many puns.

[Anne Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a funny feeling that this book of all that I've read by this author will bring the most joy to my grandsons. It is very clever, with many play-on-words which may need some interpretation for kids. The illustrations are very colorful and inviting.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little picture book - can't wait to use it in storytime!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bright, cheerful first day of school story.

[Lisa D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Perfect back to school book!

[SABRINA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to read this to my son, hopefully it will get him pumped for school! Great picture book that rhymes. AND of course TRAINS!!!